Safety locking apparatus



Sept. 28 1926. I 1,601,176

B. P. JOYCE SAFETY LOGKI NG APPARATUS Filed August 20 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 aka-rue Sept. 28 1926.

B. P. JOYCE SAFETY LOCKING APPARATUS Filed August- 20 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2,

Syn undo? -EHETL P. J El EE lzz rrz/ www/ Q. Elli mm e\ g w 4 w v 7 Q I I I. 7 E 0 u m m 7 v W 1 [7 a 4.

Sept. 28 192$. 1,601,176

B. P. JOYCE SAFETY LOCKING APPARATUS Eiled AugustflZO 925 4Sheets-Sheet 5 15:14am Pdlflce Sept. 28 1926.

B.- P. JOYCE SAFETY LOCKING APPARATUS Filed August 20 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Q14 umtm Eflan P- lgifce Fatented Sept. 28, 1926.

BRYAN P. JGYGE, OF DAVENPORT, IOW'A, ASSIG-NOR TO DAVID M. KING, OF UNITED STATES ARMY.

SAFETY LOCKING APPARATUS.

Application filed. August 20, 1925.

Serial No. 51,532.

The invention described herein may be used by the Government, or any of its oflicers or employees in prosecution of work for the Government, or by any other person the United States, without payment to ans of any royalty thereon, in accordance "with the act of March 3, 1883.

This invention relates to a safety locking apparatus, especially designed for guns of large calibers.

v In certain types of large caliber guns, it is necessary after firing each round to move the gun from its elevated or firing position to an approximately horizontal position for loading. These guns are provided with the usual elevating mechanism to which the gun cradle is locked during firing and in addition with a quick loading mechanism moving the gun rapidly to and from its elevated position to a position for loading.

According to the present invention a clutch is provided for locking the gear train between a self-locking elevating worm and the elevating are of the tipping parts, this clutch being disengaged when bringing the quick loading mechanism into play. This arrangement is utilized for operating a device which will prevent premature actuation of the firing means when the clutch is disengaged.

The principal object then, of the invention, is the provision of an apparatus operable through manipulation of the elevating mechanism clutch which will prevent actuation of the firing means when the clutch is disengaged, while inversely it will clear the firing means when the clutch is engaged. The apparatus also includes auxiliary looking means which will function when the gun fails to return completely into battery.

To these and other ends, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of elements, described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims forming a part of this specification.

A practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in right side elevation of a gun provided with the improved locking apparatus, the parts of said apparatus being shown in position to pre n -uatifin 1 th firing means and the gun being in battery with the clutch disengaged;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the top carriage above the elevating shaft;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view in elevation of the locking apparatus shown in the locking position;

Fig. 1 is a similar view of the locking apparatus showing the position of its elements when the gun is not in battery;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevation ofthe front bracket and attendant mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional View on the line 7-? of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a reversed detail view in side elevation of the clutch lever;

Fig. 9 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged view in elevation of the connection between the elevating shaft and the locking apparatus;

Fig. 11 is a front view thereof;

Fig. 12 is a detail sectional view on the line 12-12 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a view along the lines of Fig. 12 but showing the pusher plate in its out position; and

Fig. 14; is a detail view of the pusher plate.

Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference:

There is shown at 5 a gun reciprocally mounted on the usual cradle 6 which is trunnioned as at 7 in the bracket arms 8 of a top carriage 9.

The gun may be elevated by means of any suitable mechanism which in the preferred embodiment of my invention includes an elevating shaft 10 (Fig. 2) mounted in the top carriage 9 and provided with an elevating pinion 11 which is at all times in mesh with the elevating are or segment 12 carried by the cradle. One end of a through shaft 13 within the elevating shaft 10 can ries a clutch 1 1 'splined as at- 15 to the shaft 10 and provided with teeth 16 for engaging internal teeth in an elevating worm wheel 17 when the clutch is held in normal operative engagement by means of a spring 18 embracing a guide rod 13 pinned to the clutch and constituting an extension of the through shaft 13. The worm wheel 17 is driven through a self-locking worm 2O actuated by a gear train generally designated by-the numeral 21.

' The quick loading mechanism by means of which the elevating pinion 11 may be more rapidly driven when the clutch is disengaged includes in the present instance a spur gear 22 fast on the shaft oppositely with respect to the clutch and meshing with a spur pinion 28 which forms part of the actuating gear train in the housings 24 and 25.

The clutch is disengaged by moving the through shaft 13, a convenient apparatus for accomplishing this from the right side of the gun consisting of a cam 26 mounted in a bracket QT and connected by a pivoted link 28 to a bell crank lever 29. By raising the lever 29 the cam is moved forwardly imparting a sufiicient inwardmovement to the through shaft 13 to disengage the clutch from the worm wheel.

The movement of the through shaft is utilizedtooperate a safety locking apparatus to prevent actuation of the firing means with which the gun is provided and which comprises a hammer 3O pivotally mounted on the breech block and provided with an extensiongl by which the hammer may be retained in the inoperative position.

The. safety locking apparatus consists of two separate elements, one mounted to recoil with the gun,.and the other carried by the top carriage so as to be capable of being actuated bythe through shaft 13. The direct connection of the latter-element with this shaft13 is effected by means of a link 32 having an apertured head 33 through which the shaft 13 passes. The shaft is formed with a tapered portion so that. as it is moved inwardly, the link is rammed dewnwardly against the action of a spring 35, seated on a block 36 disposed within a slot in the link and secured to t-l e top carriage by screws 37. The upper end of the link is attached to a sectional ring 38 assembled for rotation around a projection 39 from the top carriage at the trunnion. The rear section of the. ring is formed with. a slot SS'adjacent the projection 39 to permit the mounting of a segmental channel pusher plate 40 of less length than the slot. This plate is mounted for radial movement on a pin ll, its in and out movement being limited by engagement of its flanges with the ring. The radial movement of the plate, during which it performs a pushing operation as will be seen later. is controlled through the rotationof the ring by means of a pin 42 carried by either member, in this instanceby the ring and-clisposedin a blin d slot 4.3 inthe plate. "Beveled-surfaces {1 4 and d4; maybe provided in. the. ring. to act on complementary lugs and 45 of the ring effected by the spring 35.

The element of the safety locking apparatus which is carried by the recoiling parts and which is actuated by the pusher plate l0 consists of a rod 46 within a slee e 4-? which is slidably supported in a pair of brackets 48-4-8 on the breech end of the gun. Both members have limited relative moven'lcnt with respect to each other under the influence of a spring l9 surrounding the ceve and confined between a collar 50 on the sleeve, and a pin 51 carried by the rod and working in a slot 4'?" in the sleeve. The sleeve is connected by a pin 52 to one end of a lever pivotally secured at its center to the forward bracket 48 and also pinned at its other end to a. shaft 53 slidably supported in this bracket. The pin 52- is disposed in a slot 48 in the rod in order to provide for movement of the rod without ell'ecting movement of the shaft. The slot is so dimensioncdand arranged that in a: the unrestrained position of the sliding members, the action of the spring 49 is e);- erted to first move the lighter rod 46 forwardly (as shown in Figure 4) until the pin 51 is brought up against the bracket. Being thus restrained, the spring then acts toinove the sleeve to the rear into the path of the hammer cxtens'on 31. until it is arrested by a pin on the shaft which contacts one of the ears of the forward bracket 18'. The forward movement of the shaft positions it so that it will strike the cradle 6 on the completion of the counterrecoilinp; stroke of the gun and through the lever withdraws the sleeve from the path of the hammer thereby enabling the hammer to be functioned only when the piece is fully in battery. Although the sleeve assumes its rear position immediately upon discharge of the piece it will not interfere with the cocking of the hammer since this operation is perforn'ied with the breech block open.

As the gun arrives in battery the rod 4-0 in its normal forward position where it is adapted to be pushed by the plate l0 when this member is moved to its outward or operative positionby virtue of the clutch of the elevating gear being disengaged. The rod is consequentlv moved to therear, as shown in Figures 1 andB, where it will prevent actuation of the hammer to fire the piece. .Upon reengaging theclutch thereby locking the tipping parts to-theelevating mechanism the plate {i0 is withdrawn, as

has been previously described; and the rod .press the gun for loading.

moves forward to inoperative position under the influence of the spring 49.

In operation, assuming the gun to be fully in battery and locked in the elevated position the rod 46 and the sleeve a7 are both in their forward or inoperative po sition enabling a free sweep of the firing iammer 3031. After firing and return of the gun into battery with the rod and sleeve in the same position it is necessary to de- To do this the clutch 1% is disengaged by moving the through shaft 18 by means of the bell crank lever 29 whence the quick loading mechanism through the intermediation of the gears 22 and 23 may actuate the elevating shaft 10. Upon disengaging the clutch, the through shaft 13 act-uates the link to rotate the ring 38 and radially moves the plate 40. The plate 40 thus serves to push the rod 46 to the rear to prevent operatio i of the firing hammer when the tipping parts are unlocked and it is only when the clutch has been reengaged that the pusher plate 40 is withdrawn to allow the rod to be moved forward by the spring 49 to clear the hammer. Should the loading operation be performed with the gun a short distance out of battery the rod 46 which is carried by the gun could evidently not be moved to the rear by the pusher plate 40 when disengaging the clutch. It is to provide for this contingency that the sleeve 47 is normally in the operative position during reciprocation of the gun, being returned to inoper ative position only when the shaft 53 strikes the end of the cradle when the gun arrives in battery.

\Vhile in the foregoing there has been illustrated and described such combination and arrangement of elements as constitute the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is nevertheless desired to emphasize the fact that interpretation of the invention should only be conclusive when made in the light of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. The combination withra carriage and a cradle provided with a gun having firing means, of mechanism including a clutch for moving the gun to an elevated position for firing, means for moving the gun for loading independently of the elevating mechanism when the clutch is disengaged, a ring mounted for rotation on the carriage, a plate carried by the ring and adapted to be moved radially on rotation of the ring, means operable on disengagement of the clutch for rotating the ring to move the plate, means operable when the clutch is engaged for counter-rotating the ring to re store the plate, brackets on the gun, a sleeve having a collar and a slot slidably mounted in the brackets, a shaft slidable in the forward bracket, a lever pivoted to the bracket and connecting the sleeve and shaft, a rod within the sleeve, a pin on the rod disposed. in the slot of the sleeve, a spring surrounding the sleeve and confined between the collar and the pin on the rod, said spring adapted to move the rod forwardly until the pin contacts the front bracket and then simultaneously move the sleeve rearwardly to prevent movement of the firing means and the shaft forwardly, means for limiting movement of the sleeve and shaft, said shaft adapted to strike the cradle on return of the gun into battery to retract the sleeve, and the rod adapted to be moved rearwardly by the plate when the clutch is disengaged to prevent movement of the firing means.

2. The combination with acarriage and a cradle provided with a gun having firing means, of mechanism including a clutch moving the gun to an elevated position for firing, means for moving the gun for loading independently of the elevating mechanism when the clutch is disengaged, a pusher member on the carriage normally in inoperative position and adapted to be moved to operative position when the clutch is disengaged, a sleeve slidably mounted on the gun, a shaft connected thereto by a lever, a rod in the sleeve, a spring for moving the rod forwardly and the sleeve rearwardly in the path of the firing means, means for limitin movement of the rod and sleeve, the shaft adapted to strike the cradle on return of the gun into battery to retract the sleeve, and the rod adapted to be moved rearwardly into the path of the firing means by the pusher member when the same is in operative position.

3. The combination with a cradle'provided with a gun having firing means, of mechanism for moving the gun to an elevated position for firing, means for locking the gun to said elevating mechanism, a quick loading mechanism operable when the gun is unlocked, a sleeve slidably mounted on the gun, a shaft connected thereto by a lever, a rod in the sleeve, means normally moving the rod forwardly and the sleeve rearwardly in the path of the firing means, means for limiting movement of the rod and sleeve, the shaft adapted to strike the cradle on return of the gun into battery to retract the sleeve, and means operable on unlocking the gun from the elevating mechanism for pushing the rod in the path of the firing means.

4. The combination with a cradle provided with a gun having firing means, of mechanism for moving the gun to an elevated posit-ion for firing, means for locking the gun to said elevating mechanism, a quick loading mechanism operable when the gun is unlocked, means on the gun for preventing actuation of the firing means except when the gun is in battery, and means within said for means adapted to be moved to prevent actuation of the firing means when the gun is unlocked from theelevating mechanism.

5. In a gun having firing means, mecha nism for elevating the gun, means for locking and unlocking the gun from said elevating mechanism, a rod slidably mounted on the gun and normally clear of the :liring means, and means operable on unlocking the gun from the elevating; mechanism for moving the rod into the path of the firing means, said last named means including a rotatable ringand a member movable radially on rotation of the rin j.

6. A cradle, a gun having firing means re ciprocal thereon, brackets on the gun, a member slidable in said brackets, a shaft slidable in the forward bracket, a lever connecting said member and shaft, means for moving the member rearwardly to prevent actuation of the firing means, means for limiting said movement, and said member adapted to be retracted to clear the firing means when the shaft strikes the cradle as the gun arrives in battery.

7. A cradle, a gun having firing means reciprocal thereon, a member slidably mounted on the gun and normally positioned to prevent actuation of the firing means when the gun is out of battery, and means connected with said member for retracting the same when said means strikes the cradle as the gun arrives in battery.

8. A cradle, a gun having firing means reciprocal thereon, and means on the gun normally positioned to prevent actuation of the fir ngmeans when the gun is out of battery but adapted when the gun is in battery to be moved by the cradle clear oi the firing means.

BRYAN P. JOYCE. 

